Bartenders pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,370 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Houston earn between $17,830 and $36,750.
- $17K10th
- $18K25th
- $23KMedian
- $37K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,460 | $2,538 | $14.64 |
| Median | $22,770 | $1,898 | $10.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $17,830 | $1,486 | $8.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,750 | $3,062 | $17.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Bartenders in Houston earn 7% less than the Texas average ($32,640) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $30,460 | $22,770 | $16,760 | $57,370 | 13,160 |
| Texas | $32,640 | $22,690 | $16,200 | $65,300 | 59,000 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Houston
On the average salary of $30,460, a single filer in Houston takes home about $26,655 a year, or $2,221 a month and $1,025 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $30,460 buys what about $30,883 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 10.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 9th of 25 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($37,610).
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Bartenders salary in Houston: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Houston?
$14.65 an hour on average, and $10.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $17,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Houston?
About $26,655 a year ($2,221 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,460. Texas has no state income tax.
Do bartenders earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.